The Black Cauldron: Dark Disney, but the Score STILL Slaps

Okay, so, "The Black Cauldron"... a bit of a weird one, right? Disney's attempt at a really dark fantasy epic, and honestly, it kinda flopped at the time. The visuals were pretty impressive for '85, sure, but the story felt...off. Taran's a bit of a whiny protagonist, and the whole Horned King thing is genuinely terrifying, even now. I watched it as a kid and definitely had nightmares! It's like they were TRYING to scare us! But hey, as HughesReviews, you know I'm here for one thing: the MUSIC. And Elmer Bernstein DELIVERS. This score is absolutely fantastic. It's so much more mature and complex than most Disney scores of that era. Listen to the cues when the Horned King is on screen – pure gothic horror vibes. The way he uses the brass and strings to build tension is masterful. Even the quieter moments, like when Taran's with Hen Wen, have a beautiful, Celtic-inspired feel. It really lifts this movie beyond what it maybe deserves. And that opening theme? Instantly iconic. I've heard some people complain about the heavy use of percussion, but I think it really adds to the primal, dangerous feeling of Prydain. I feel like if this movie was a hit, Bernstein's score would be way more celebrated in general. I'm not gonna lie, the movie itself is flawed. Gurgi is probably the most annoying Disney character ever created (sorry, not sorry), and the pacing is all over the place. But honestly, sometimes I just put on the score and let my imagination fill in the gaps. Try listening to “The Witches’ Cottage” and tell me you don’t feel like you’re in some creepy, enchanted forest. Seriously. So yeah, "The Black Cauldron" – it's a mixed bag, visually not always great, a little too frantic with the main character, but it's worth watching (or at least listening to) for Elmer Bernstein's amazing score alone. Definitely a hidden gem in the Disney vault, at least from a soundtrack perspective. What are some of your favorites from this one? Let me know!